Medical FIDSAP V2 Practice Test

In aplastic anemia, the reticulocyte count is typically?

High reticulocyte count Low reticulocyte count due to impaired marrow production Normal reticulocyte count Elevated reticulocytes with increased marrow activity

Correct Answer:

Low reticulocyte count due to impaired marrow production

Explanation:

The reticulocyte count reflects how actively the bone marrow is producing new red blood cells in response to anemia. In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow is failing and becomes hypocellular, with little production of all blood cell lines. Because the marrow can’t efficiently generate red cell precursors, the circulating reticulocytes stay low even though the patient is anemic. This reduced reticulocyte count demonstrates the lack of marrow response characteristic of marrow failure. In contrast, conditions like acute blood loss or hemolysis stimulate the marrow to produce more red cells, leading to a higher reticulocyte count.

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